ASU dean makes history as first female president of The University of Tulsa.
On Monday, March 9, The University of Tulsa made the long-anticipated announcement of who will replace Interim President Rick Dickson, who has served since Brad Carson resigned last spring. Stacy Leeds, Dean of the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, will be stepping into the role in July. Leeds is a graduate of the TU College of Law and a 6th generation Oklahoman, making this appointment a homecoming.
The presidential search has been shrouded in mystery and controversy. Rumors spread early on about an offer to make Representative Kevin Hern president in exchange for a one hundred million dollar gift to the university. Some also speculated that former mayor of Tulsa, GT Bynum, or his wife Susan could be Carson’s successor. Many students and staff had concerns about candidates who did not come from a background in higher education and worried about possible cuts to liberal arts programs under new leadership. TU previously suffered a large blow to liberal arts during True Commitment, a 2019 program that sought to cut 40% of all academic programs, including 31 programs in the College of Arts & Sciences.
English professor George Justice, who served as TU’s provost under Brad Carson, was Dean of Humanities at ASU from 2013 to 2017. When asked for comment, Justice said, “I’m excited that Stacy Leeds is returning home to Tulsa and to the University of Tulsa as our next president. Although we didn’t overlap at Arizona State, I have heard over the past few years from many of my friends — both at the university and in the Phoenix community — about her excellence as dean. And having served as a dean at ASU myself, I know the kind of leadership that President Crow and Provost Gonzales instill in their deans. Dean Leeds is a wonderful choice to lead TU into the future.”
Incoming President Stacy Leeds at last Wednesday’s press conference. Photo by Aristotle Orsini.
To celebrate our new president, the university hosted a reception Wednesday morning in the Lorton Performing Arts Center. Before the reception, a press conference was held during which Head of Marketing and Communication Mona Chamberlain, Chair of the Board of Trustees Marcia MacLeod and Stacy Leeds gave remarks to reporters. The event was open only to media, donors and select students and staff. When asked about the future of the humanities at TU, Leeds said, “there can’t be a vibrant university without the humanities, and so it will always continue to be an important piece of this university.”
General sentiment seems to be positive about the future of TU under the leadership of Leeds with staff and students joining in the celebration Wednesday morning, talking amongst themselves and meeting the new president. While Leeds will not officially take over the position until July 1, she says she has been working closely with Interim President Rick Dickson to ensure a smooth transition.
A new president likely means changes in staffing, particularly in higher-up positions. English professor Jennifer Airey has served as provost since the departure of Brad Carson, and it is unknown if she will continue to fulfill this role under Leeds’s presidency or if a new provost will be selected.
